As sterling’s slump to euro parity pushes up the cost of Continental breaks, holidaymakers are booking up to head off to what has been dubbed the “Costa del Kasbah” in 2009.
Travelers are turning their backs on expensive food and accommodation in Spain, France and Greece, where the pound does not go as far as it used to, and turning to alternative resorts in Morocco in North Africa, said independent travel agent Sam Smith, the vice-chairman of Abta in South Wales.
He told the Western Mail around 40% more people had booked to visit those destinations next year than in 2008.
“People still want to go on holiday despite the credit crunch, but are spending their money wisely. “
“In terms of Continental holidays, last year wasn’t too bad because the credit crunch had yet to hit. But, a reasonably educated guess is that holidays to Turkey and Morocco are around 40% up for 2009.”
She said: “People are prepared to make sacrifices in the credit crunch, but I find one thing they don’t want to sacrifice is their holiday, so they are looking for advice about where to go to best the best value for money.
“Gone are the days when people went to Majorca for a good deal.”
Post Office research found that since December last year the price of a three-course meal including wine in Spain had risen from £30.20 to £37.22.
At its all-time low in 2000, the euro was worth 57p on foreign currency markets – today it is worth about 96p.
A spokesman said: “With the position of the currencies unlikely to get much better, we expect people will continue to look farther afield to north Africa and Turkey, which offer much better value for money and where you can still find dinner for two for £20.”
Airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet have increased flights to Morocco and Turkey in the past 18 months, with some tour operators responding to the pressure by cutting the cost of breaks to Spain.
Travelers are turning their backs on expensive food and accommodation in Spain, France and Greece, where the pound does not go as far as it used to, and turning to alternative resorts in Morocco in North Africa, said independent travel agent Sam Smith, the vice-chairman of Abta in South Wales.
He told the Western Mail around 40% more people had booked to visit those destinations next year than in 2008.
“People still want to go on holiday despite the credit crunch, but are spending their money wisely. “
“In terms of Continental holidays, last year wasn’t too bad because the credit crunch had yet to hit. But, a reasonably educated guess is that holidays to Turkey and Morocco are around 40% up for 2009.”
She said: “People are prepared to make sacrifices in the credit crunch, but I find one thing they don’t want to sacrifice is their holiday, so they are looking for advice about where to go to best the best value for money.
“Gone are the days when people went to Majorca for a good deal.”
Post Office research found that since December last year the price of a three-course meal including wine in Spain had risen from £30.20 to £37.22.
At its all-time low in 2000, the euro was worth 57p on foreign currency markets – today it is worth about 96p.
A spokesman said: “With the position of the currencies unlikely to get much better, we expect people will continue to look farther afield to north Africa and Turkey, which offer much better value for money and where you can still find dinner for two for £20.”
Airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet have increased flights to Morocco and Turkey in the past 18 months, with some tour operators responding to the pressure by cutting the cost of breaks to Spain.
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